Miss Gething nodded brightly, and having by this time reached the corner of a road, came to a stop. “I’m not going in just yet,” she said, glancing up the road towards her house. “I’m going for a walk.” “I hope it will be a pleasant one,” said Wilson, after a pause, devoted to wondering whether he might venture to offer to accompany her. “Goodbye.” He held out his hand. “Good-bye,” said Annis; “if you like to call in and wait to see mother she will be pleased to see you, I’m sure.” “Is there anybody to let me in?” inquired Wilson. “Mr. Glover is there, I expect,” said Annis, looking steadily across the road. “I—I’ll call another time,” said the perplexed Wilson, “but I should have thought—” “Thought what?” said she. “Nothin’,” said he. “I—Are you going for a long walk?” “Not very far,” said she. “Why?” “I suppose you prefer going alone?” “I don’t mind it,” said Annis Gothing; “but you can come if you like.” They turned down the road together, and for some time walked on in silence. “What was that you were going to say just now?” said Annis, when the silence threatened to become awkward. “When?” said Wilson. “When I told you that Mr. Glover was at our house you said you should have thought—” She turned and regarded him with an expression in her eyes which he tried in vain to decipher. “Well, I should have thought,” he said desperately, “that you would have wanted to go there.” “I don’t understand you,” said Annis coldly. “I think you are rather rude.” “I beg your pardon,” said Wilson humbly; “I’m very sorry, very.” There was another long silence, during which they left the road and entered a footpath. It was very narrow, and Annis walked in front. “I would give anything to find your father,” said Wilson earnestly. “Oh, I wish you could, I wish you could,” said Annis, looking at him over her shoulder. “I suppose Mr. Glover is trying all he can?” said Wilson. “I want my father!” said Annis with sudden passion—“I want him badly, but I would sooner anybody than Mr. Glover found him!” “But you are to be married when he is found,” said the puzzled Wilson. “If Mr. Glover finds him,” said Annis in a low voice. “Do you mean to say,” said the skipper (in his excitement he caught her by the arm, and she did not release it)—“do you mean to say that you are not going to marry this Glover unless he finds your father?” “Yes,” said Annis, “that is the arrangement. Mother fretted so, and I thought nothing mattered much if we could only find my father. So I promised.” “And I suppose if anybody else finds him?” faltered Wilson, as with a ruthless disregard of growing crops he walked beside her. “In that case,” said Annis, looking at him pleasantly, “I sha’n’t marry. Is that what you mean?” “I didn’t mean quite that,” said Wilson. “I was going to say—” “There!” said Annis, stopping suddenly and pointing, “isn’t there a fine view of the river from here?” “Splendid!” said Wilson. “It is my favorite walk,” said Annis.